Nets Continue to Deal, Trading Hopson to Bulls

By CLIFTON BROWN

Published: June 27, 1990

As they prepared for the National Basketball Association draft tonight, the Nets found time to make another deal yesterday.

New Jersey made its second trade in two days, sending Dennis Hopson to Chicago for three draft picks and future considerations (possibly another pick). The Nets received the 22d pick tonight plus the Bulls' second-round picks in 1991 and 1992.

The Nets still have the first pick in tonight's draft and their general manager, Willis Reed, planned to listen to all offers up until today's 2 P.M. trading deadline. If Reed hears an offer he cannot refuse, he will trade the No. 1 pick today. If not, the Nets will almost certainly select either Derrick Coleman of Syracuse or Dennis Scott of Georgia Tech. Most N.B.A. insiders believe the Nets will select Coleman, who would have substantial value should the Nets decide to trade him before next season.

As this afternoon's trade deadline draws closer, it becomes less likely that the Nets will trade the No. 1 pick. Trading can resume after tonight's first round.

Whatever happens tonight, the Nets believe they should leave the draft with a better team than the one that finished with the worst record in the league (17-65) last season.

Third Player Chosen in 1987

Hopson, a 6-foot-4-inch shooting guard, became expendable after the Nets acquired Reggie Theus from Orlando on Monday. Hopson was the third player taken in the 1987 draft, but he never played up to expectations. Last season, Hopson averaged 15.8 points per game, but he still shot just 43.4 percent from the field. He averaged less than two assists per game, and the Nets' coaching staff sometimes questioned his defensive intensity.

''We feel Reggie Theus is a player who can produce for us, and that definitely was a factor in making this trade,'' said Bob Casciola, the Nets' vice president. ''Dennis showed signs of improving for us, but we need to find a different type of chemistry for this team and this trade was made with that in mind.''

In Chicago, Hopson will be given a chance to provide backcourt help for Michael Jordan. Hopson could not be reached for comment. But his agent, Mark Termini, said Hopson was happy to be joining the Bulls.

''I spoke to Dennis, and he's enthusiastic about joining a team that was on the verge of making the N.B.A. finals,'' Termini said. ''The losing in New Jersey was not an easy thing for Dennis. He was burdened by the fact that the team never gelled around him.''

Hopson played for four coaches in his three seasons with the Nets.

Asked about trading the No. 1 pick, Reed said, ''A lot of people are talking and we're getting a lot of offers, but nobody has come up with a girl pretty enough to take to the prom, yet.

''We suffered through 82 games and won 17 in order to get the No. 1 pick. We're not just giving it up to make somebody else better.''

Help Needed at Every Position

The Nets hope to get a quality backup player with the No. 22 pick tonight. It will most likely be a forward. The Knicks have the 17th pick and are looking for a frontcourt player.

Tonight's draft is one of the most unpredictable in recent years, largely because many of the players are rated evenly. Coleman, Scott, and Gary Payton of Oregon State will almost surely be among the first five players selected.

The draft, which is only two rounds (54 players), begins at 7:30 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center and is open to the public.

McCray Goes to Mavericks

DALLAS, June 26 (AP) - The Dallas Mavericks acquired Rodney McCray, a veteran forward, from the Sacramento Kings tonight for two first-round draft picks and Bill Wennington, a backup center.

The Mavericks, who gave up the 14th and 18th picks in Wednesday's draft, also received two second-round picks in 1991.